We're getting married

Bernie & Sharon

Sunday, April 18, 2027 · Time TBD

Pudong, Shanghai

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Chapter One

Our Story

Every love story is a little different. Here are a few of the moments that brought us to this one.

  1. Spring 2019

    First Meeting

    We met at a small coffee shop in the city. What was supposed to be a quick introduction turned into hours of conversation.

  2. Summer 2020

    Our First Trip

    A spontaneous road trip to the coast became the weekend we both knew this was something special.

  3. Winter 2022

    Moving In Together

    We built a home together, one mismatched piece of furniture at a time.

  4. Autumn 2025

    The Proposal

    On a quiet evening walk, surrounded by the ones we love, the answer was an easy yes.

Save the Date

The Details

The Evening Before

Meet & Greet

Sat · Apr 17

Join us the evening before for a relaxed welcome — a chance to say hi to friends and family as everyone arrives. Venue and timing details to come.

The Venue

High Yunjian

by Light & Salt

High·沄涧

光与盐 · 前滩中心店

English R1 (rooftop level), Qiantan Center, 555 Haiyang West Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai — beside Qiantan Taikoo Li.

中文 上海市浦东新区海阳西路555号前滩中心顶层R1层（近前滩太古里）

View on Map

How to get there

  • Metro Take Line 18 to Qiantan (前滩) Station or Lines 6 / 8 / 11 to Oriental Sports Center (东方体育中心). From either, it is a short walk to Qiantan Center (前滩中心) — the tall office tower beside Taikoo Li.
  • On arrival Enter Qiantan Center and follow signage for Light & Salt / High Yunjian (光与盐). The restaurant occupies the rooftop R1 level; staff often greet guests at the Light & Salt lounge on the transfer floor — when in doubt, ask the lobby for “High Yunjian” or “光与盐”.
  • Driving & parking Navigate to 555 Haiyang West Road (海阳西路555号). Use Qiantan Center or nearby mall parking (several carparks serve this block — pick the one opposite Qiantan Center if your map shows multiple “stone zone” lots). Allow a few extra minutes to find the elevator lobby.
Ceremony

Time TBD

Reception

Following ceremony

Ceremony and reception take place here — one rooftop space at High Yunjian by Light & Salt. Dinner and celebration follow in the same venue.

Dress Code

Details to come — we'll share guidance closer to the date.

Plan Your Stay

Travel

A few hotels near the venue and tips to make the trip easy.

Luxury · Next to Taikoo Li

Shangri-La Qiantan

上海前滩香格里拉酒店

Next door

Right next door to Qiantan Taikoo Li — separate from the mall itself and not where our celebration will be held (we’ll pinpoint everything closer to the date). Still the closest luxury option in the area, with indoor pool, wellness club, and restaurants on site.

From ~$210/night Book
Mid-range · Design-forward

Artyzen Habitat Qiantan

上海前滩雅辰悦居酒店

~5 min walk

Modern, well-designed hotel a few minutes from Taikoo Li and the Oriental Sports Center metro stop. A great balance of comfort and value.

From ~$80/night Book
Affordable · Boutique

The Shàng by Artyzen Qiantan

上海前滩雅辰尚酒店

~5 min walk

Friendly boutique hotel from the Artyzen group, one street over from Taikoo Li. Lifestyle feel at a very reasonable rate.

From ~$60/night Book

Airports

International flights land at Shanghai Pudong International (PVG) — ~40 km, 30–40 min by taxi, or Metro Line 2 transferring to Line 18 at Longyang Road. Most domestic flights use Hongqiao (SHA) — ~20 km, also 30–40 min by taxi. If you're connecting between the two, the new Airport Express (市域机场线) does PVG ↔ SHA in about 40 minutes.

Getting Around Shanghai

A short guide for anyone who hasn't been to mainland China recently: • Metro: Line 18 stops at 前滩 (Qiantan) Station, walking distance to Taikoo Li. Lines 6 / 8 / 11 also serve the neighborhood via Oriental Sports Center Station. Use the MetroMan or 地铁 Metro apps. • Taxis: download DiDi (滴滴) — English interface, pay in-app. Easier than flagging a cab. • Payments: Shanghai is almost entirely cashless. Install Alipay (支付宝) and/or WeChat Pay (微信支付) before you arrive and link a foreign Visa/Mastercard — both now support international cards for tourists. A small amount of RMB cash (¥200–500) is a useful backup. • Maps: AMap (高德地图) has an English mode and is accurate for transit and walking. Google Maps is unreliable in China; Apple Maps works reasonably well. • Internet: Google, Gmail, Instagram, WhatsApp, and YouTube are blocked. Install a VPN (e.g. ExpressVPN, Astrill) before arrival if you want access. Alternatively, an international travel eSIM often routes around the firewall automatically. • Translation: Pleco is excellent for characters; Google Translate (with VPN) or Baidu Translate work for conversation.

Coming from abroad?

Getting into China

Rules depend on your passport country. Below we separate what matters for guests from the United States versus the United Kingdom, then walk through three common paths. Policies change — confirm with your embassy before booking.

Traveling from the United States

Most of our guests are coming from the United States. With a United States passport, you are generally not eligible for China’s 30-day visa-free entry in the same way as many European nationals. In practice, United States travelers usually choose either 240-hour visa-free transit (Option B) with an onward ticket to a third country or region, or a tourist (L) visa (Option C).

Read Option B and Option C below carefully — they spell out what applies to United States passport holders.

Traveling from the United Kingdom

With a United Kingdom passport (British citizen), you may qualify for up to 30 days visa-free entry under China’s unilateral waiver program (Option A) — confirm on the official country list before you book.

If that doesn’t fit your trip, United Kingdom citizens can also use 240-hour visa-free transit (Option B) or apply for an L visa (Option C), same as travelers from many other countries.

Option A

Up to 30 days

Visa-free entry

This path applies if you hold a passport from an eligible country — including the United Kingdom (British citizens), Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, much of continental Europe, and others on the official list. United States passport holders are not covered by this 30-day visa-free program; if you are traveling on a United States passport, use Option B or Option C instead.

How it works

  1. 1 Hold a valid ordinary passport from an eligible country (e.g. United Kingdom — confirm your nationality on the list)
  2. 2 Have a confirmed onward or return ticket
  3. 3 Fly in — no visa application required for those who qualify

Policy details and the definitive country list are on the National Immigration Administration site. Rules are currently published through Dec 31, 2026; verify again before you travel.

See the full country list (NIA)
Option B

Up to 10 days (240 hours)

Visa-free transit

Both United States and United Kingdom citizens are among the nationalities that may use China’s 240-hour visa-free transit — but only when you are flying onward to a third country or region (not a simple round trip home only). Hong Kong, Macau, and Singapore count as separate regions for this purpose. Example for United States travelers: San Francisco → Shanghai → Tokyo → US. Example for United Kingdom travelers: London → Shanghai → Hong Kong → UK.

How it works

  1. 1 Book an onward ticket to a third country or region within the allowed window (see official rules)
  2. 2 At check-in, tell the airline you will use the 240-hour transit policy
  3. 3 After landing in Shanghai, request the free Temporary Entry Permit at the visa-free transit desk

Works at Shanghai Pudong (PVG) and Hongqiao (SHA). For United States guests who only need a short stay and can route through another country, this often avoids a full visa application. United Kingdom guests who already qualify for 30-day visa-free entry (Option A) may still choose this route if it suits their itinerary.

Transit policy — Embassy of China in the United States Visa hub — Embassy of China in the United Kingdom
Option C

Tourist (L) visa

Apply for a tourist visa

Choose this if you need a standard tourist visa — for example, United States passport holders staying under normal round-trip routing without using transit rules, or anyone who wants a longer stay than transit allows. United Kingdom passport holders may also apply for an L visa instead of Option A if they prefer a visa in their passport or need a longer visit.

How it works

  1. 1 Complete the online application at China's COVA portal
  2. 2 Submit your passport and printed form in person (or via an agent) at your local Chinese Visa Application Service Center
  3. 3 Collect your passport after processing (often about four business days; express may be available)

Fees differ by nationality — United States citizens were about $140 at last check; United Kingdom applicants pay the fee listed for the UK center. Fingerprints have been waived for many applicants through 2026; confirm when you apply. Apply one to two months before travel when possible.

Start your application (COVA)

Official resources

COVA · Online Visa Application Official form for L-visa and all other visa types. Visa Application Service Centers United States and United Kingdom (and others): find your local submission office. National Immigration Administration Authoritative visa-free policy details (English).
Good to Know

Questions

A few answers to common questions. Can't find what you're looking for? Just ask us directly.

What time should I arrive?

The exact ceremony time is still being finalized. We'll share the full schedule here and in your invitation as the date gets closer.

Is there a dress code?

Details to come — we'll post guidance here and in your invitation once it's set.

How do I get to the venue?

The celebration is at High Yunjian by Light & Salt — rooftop R1 at Qiantan Center (前滩中心), 555 Haiyang West Road, beside Taikoo Li. Take Metro Line 18 to Qiantan (前滩) or Lines 6 / 8 / 11 to Oriental Sports Center, then walk to Qiantan Center and follow signage for Light & Salt. DiDi (滴滴) works well for taxis. If you drive, allow extra time for parking around Qiantan Center or the mall carparks.

Do I need a visa to come to China?

It depends on your passport. Travelers from the United Kingdom may qualify for up to 30 days visa-free entry; travelers from the United States generally do not use that same waiver and instead often use 240-hour visa-free transit (with an onward ticket to a third region) or apply for a tourist visa. The visa guide above separates United States vs United Kingdom clearly — always confirm with your embassy or consulate before booking.

How do I pay for things in Shanghai?

Shanghai is almost entirely cashless. Before you arrive, install Alipay (支付宝) and/or WeChat Pay (微信支付) and link your international Visa or Mastercard — both now support foreign cards for tourists. Keep ¥200–500 in cash as a backup. Most hotels and larger restaurants also accept foreign credit cards directly.

Will I have internet access?

Google, Gmail, Instagram, WhatsApp, and YouTube are blocked on local networks. If you rely on them, install a VPN (ExpressVPN, Astrill, etc.) before you arrive — downloading one inside China is much harder. Many international travel eSIMs also bypass the firewall automatically, which is another great option.

Can I bring a plus one?

We're keeping the celebration intimate. Please refer to your invitation for who is invited; if you have a plus one, they will be listed there.

Are kids welcome?

We love your little ones, but we've chosen to keep the ceremony and reception an adults-only event so that everyone can relax and celebrate.

What's the best way to RSVP?

Through our RSVP form below. Please respond by February 28, 2027, so we can finalize the headcount with our venue.

Who can I contact with other questions?

Feel free to reach out to us directly — we're happy to help with travel, logistics, or anything else.

Join Us

Will you be there?

Please let us know by February 28, 2027. We can't wait to celebrate with you.

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